Monday, March 31, 2014

Mother's Day is quickly approaching. I know it is just barely April, but it will be here before we know it. For once, I'm ready!

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and I know they are one of my Mom's as well. I set out to create this gorgeous flower using the same technique as I used for the Poppy flower centers. It is pretty simple. Stack the punched circles to form a "mountain" and glue these adorable little "clovers" all over. Time consuming.... yes. Worth it.... definitely!

I wanted more subtle colors for the flower, so instead of using colored cardstock, I sponged the colors onto White cardstock. It also allowed me to get a variation in colors.

Friday, March 28, 2014

I am a hardcore fan of {Hardwood}. I use it on so many cards. It is so versatile, the possibilities are endless. I also am in love with {The Open Sea} and the new {Hello Sailor} stamp sets. I really really enjoy making nautical cards and these sets are just SO much fun to play around with. Another couple favorites are Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay... oh I better add Baked Brown Sugar to that too.

I decided to incorporate ALL of these into one card. I am a HUGE fan of metal work and the Verdigris patina that sometimes goes along with it. My husband and I visited St. Augustine, Florida a few years ago and went to the Old City. Talk about AMAZING pieces of history! One of the things that really struck me was the patina on the old canons at Castillo de San Marcos. That is what sparked the idea for this card.

I wanted to create a "rust" effect on the port hole. I started with Whisper White cardstock and sponged on Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay. I then used the Gorgeous Grunge stamps and added Baked Brown Sugar and Cajun Craze. I think it really worked out well!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

There is something very tranquil about fish. I am always mesmerized when I see a beautiful fish tank, or better yet at the Aquarium. I could spend hours watching fish swim.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this card. With my Audible book turned up, I set to work on this with only the idea that I wanted to use the {By the Tide} stamp set. I also wanted to use my Pacific Point ink. Shockingly, this is the first time I've used it. WHY is that? It's a gorgeous color!

It was a pretty simple card to create. Only a little time consuming due to the hand cut fish. I really like the way it turned out. I decided to go with a neutral sentiment so it can go with any occasion. Now, I just have to find a manly man-person to give it to...

*The "Ombre" effect was created using a sponge

{Inside}

{Detail}

*I created the bubbles by mixing Pacific Point ink and Crystal Effects together, then used a toothpick to drop them onto the card surface.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Sympathy cards are never fun to make, but they feel good to give. I really like having them on hand because you never know when you will need one. Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, some of our Design Team members are sharing what they have created. Please take a moment to stop by and check them out!

For this card, I chose to use {Ex Libris} as the background. I think that has to be one of my absolute favorites. It is so elegant. Because the background is fairly busy, I didn't want to over power the card with too many embellishments or layers. Sometimes less is more?

Monday, March 24, 2014

Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, we're showcasing Masculine cards. I actually have come to really enjoy making "manly" cards. Stampin' Up! makes it fun! With the use of {Hardwood} and {By the Tide}, I was able to make a go of it.

If you haven't already used the {Hardwood} stamp, YOU SHOULD! I absolutely LOVE this stamp. I've used it on so many different projects. It is so versatile... and just plain AWESOME. I'm a big fan of the natural, rugged look anyway so this stamp just floats my boat.

I used some hemp twine to create a "net" for the Lobster to sit on.

Lots and lots of Dimensionals were used to make these little sea critters JUMP out of the card.

I used the Fancy Fan embossing folder to add texture to the Window Sheet behind the fish. I wanted it to really resemble water.

I really like to decorate the inside of a card as well. This one was really fun. I just brushed the Whisper White cardstock with Soft Sky and Marina Mist ink pads and stamped the coral in Cajun Craze.

About Me

I'm the farmer's wife. My husband, Eric and I have been married for 10 years. We are blessed to have two amazing kids, Kylie (8) and Preston (5). We live on the family wheat farm in Prescott, Wa. and enjoy the simple life. I prefer jeans and cowboy boots. I'm sarcastic and sassy. I love a quiet evening filled with friends, good food and a great IPA.